Climate change potentially is very bad for humanity. Extreme weather events. Last year we experienced one of the hottest summers on record. Massive autumnal tropical storms lined up one after another and then followed by one of the biggest winters on record.
This year average global temperatures are set to be the hottest on record. Europe has seen a blisteringly hot summer (hotter than last year) and today the National Hurricane Center is showing tropical storms Gordon and Florence lining up across the Atlantic.
Does this mean we are in for the biggest winter ever? Only time will tell but I think the signs are looking good for some great skiing this winter – Perhaps now is the time to book some skiing in Verbier?
Tropical Storm Florence Update
Tropical Storm Florence
Florence has been building over the weekend and is now looking like a category ‘M’ storm (M denotes major hurricane). Florence will hit the coast of America later this week.
If you are interested in some other snow-forecasting techniques then read my blog on Smart Snow-Forecasting. Or, if you just want the current real weather in Verbier check out the my weather forecast page.
In 1986 I had my first attempt at Higher Education, after a term and a half my tutors thought it best we part company… that was the moment I realised life was about choosing my own course in life, creating my own destiny. In the summer of 1987 I found a job teaching windsurfing in Turkey, my mind was opened to a life outside of the conventional, after an epic summer I arrived back in the UK. All those around me said it was time to get a ‘Real Job’ …’. so, I got a job in London selling ski holidays, I had joined the race race….
Eleven months later I was ready to throw myself in the Thames, it was time to live my life. I managed to wangle a fantastic career move, hydro-ceramic engineer for the 88/89 winter season in Val d’Isere. At the end of my first season dishwashing in Val d’Isere, not only had I had an awesome time. I had more spare cash than at any moment in the real-world job back in London… the future looked bright my career path was set.
In the 30 winter seasons since 1988 I’ve had many resort job, I’ve been a dishwasher, dishwasher ski guide, chalet boy, MBO (Maintenance and building officer), tour operator resort manager, ski rental technician, floor boy for a night club, ski tester for Ski and Board magazine, ski school technical director, ski school director, ski instructor, I even managed 3 winter seasons whilst completing a degree in Fine Craft Furniture Design and Making, I’ve trained as a Master Practitioner of NLP and Sports Hypnosis.
The common thread across the last 30 years is my love of the skiing and the mountains, I still love every day in the mountains and the best days are those when I am helping others to learn to ski and enjoy the mountains.
Where it all started – Hotel Fjord Val d’Isere
Y.S.E. ‘Young single and easy’ Tony NoStyle
Y.S.E. Brochure cover 1992
Ski Testing for Ski and Board Magazine
Ski Testing for Ski and Board Magazine
I’ve always love the bumps
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/bumps-zermatt.bmp512768Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2018-08-24 10:07:442023-04-05 18:49:22A brief history of time… 35 ski seasons later and still loving skiing and the mountains
‘Come and help us clean up the mountains we all love: let’s collect all the rubbish that doesn’t belong there!’ Well that’s what the leaflet said’
It didn’t sound like the greatest of family days out, trudging around the Verbier ski pistes collecting up other’s detritus…. but our collective civic responsibility kicked-in and off we trotted to collect up soggy tissues and wot-not left on the mountain after the skiing has finished and the snow has melted. I couldn’t have gauged the day more wrongly.
We met at Medran where the organiser provided free rubber gloves, plastic rubbish bags, a free oe day lift pass, coffee & croissants for breakfast, packed lunch, an end of day BBQ, and a 1 DAY SKI PASS WINTER 2017/2018 and … one BEANIE for the first 50 inscriptions online… plus the chance of winning the rubbish sculpture and the Instagram competition #verbierrammasage.
The day was a great success with a total of over 1000 kilograms of rubbish collect from Verbiers main ski areas.
Rubbish Sculpture Competition – May the Filth be with you.
Seven teams entered the sculpture competition, everyone was looking competitive, there was 150CHF first prize to be won. With an interesting selection of creations being built: Rubbish President with the soundbite ‘Make our mountains great again’, a wigwam affair and others. My team (Me, my wife Emma and our boys Thomas 5 and Jamie nearly 2) set about building Darth Rubbish. ‘May the filth be with you’.
And the winner is Darth Rubbish, we won! ‘May the filth be with you’
#verbierrammasage Instagram competition and Facebook page
Instagram competition was a great success with some great entries and won by Kato Kim with his image ‘what a toad of rubbish’
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_1471-002.jpg20481536Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2017-06-25 06:28:462023-02-28 11:45:28Verbier Ski Piste | The Big Clean Up
Le premier Gigaselfie de Suisse est aux Ruinettes V E R B I E R
Tous à vos smartphones! Depuis cette fin de semaine, la station de Verbier propose à ses hôtes d’immortaliser leur pas- sage sur les pentes des Ruinettes, via le premier «gigaselfie» de Suisse.
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/V-E-R-B-I-E-R.jpg6231030Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2017-03-29 05:17:162021-02-01 08:42:33VERBIER Skiing & The Biggest Selfie
Yes, my snow and piste report from Verbier has been a little bit like the propaganda from your local dictator – There is no revolution going on here and yes the snow is amazing! Since my last report I have been a little apprehensive about reporting the truth. We have had skiing and the ski lifts are open! But January 2017 has not produced much in the way of fresh snow. Currently in Verbier, and probably like a lot of the Alps, the piste are very firm and the off piste skiing is chalky grippy snow and a lot of moguls! Stories of recent fresh powder, is….. just a story!
Having recently spoken to many old and wisened locals, I am brave enough to admit that the weather is changing, along with the moon and all the other mystical signs! This afternoon Mount Blanc and the Grand Combin had their hats on – this is a sure sign the weather is changing – So with luck we should see a dump of fresh snow just in time for the February half term.
If you want to learn to get to grips with chalky off piste conditions then maybe book some ski lessons with me.
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gaddifi-the-dictator.jpg494380Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2017-01-11 05:39:562021-02-01 08:42:33Verbier Snow Report January 2017
Here at Snowquarters we are discussing a potential snowspiracy. I am still taking my daily security briefings from my very own ‘intelligence agency’. This mornings’ briefing concerned a security breach. The Snow Prediction Services (SPS) computer has been a hacked by unknown external forces.
The security breach mostly concerns the SPS’s snow-forecasting predictions services. Currently the SPS is unable to accurately predict snowfalls, the computer system has defaulted into only predicting ‘Epic Snow’. Which, as you can see from the photo above isn’t actually that accurate!
The SPS has sent their secret agents out to uncover the hackers and the source of the snowspiracy. The Democratic Republic of Clambin (DRC) has denied all knowledge but has indicated that the Peoples Popular Front of Clambin (PPFC) are involved. The DRC has alleged that PPFC have developed the skills to weaponize and control the snow, or the lack of snow, in-an-attempt to stop DRC having access to their headquarters at Chez Dany in Clambin.
This is a very complicated and fast evolving situation, which hopefully will end every soon. We can then go back to the normal service of Epic Snow in Verbier!
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Verbier-from-Bruson.jpg10972048Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2016-12-20 12:00:002021-02-01 08:42:33Snowspiracy – Where is the Snow? – Snow Conspiracy Theory
Not satisfied with making Verbier look like a Swiss cheese, the local building firms are getting carried away digging another massive hole, but this time down in Le Châble. And as ever the gossip is rife. There are some great rumours and bar chat, around Verbier, about what is actually going on down at the train station car park in Le Châble.
Some people have said that the Swiss Navy are building a new secret submarine base. Others have said it is going to be an artificial surf break. Some have suggested it is a new communal nuclear bomb shelter. The Democratic Republic of Clambin (DRC) has denied any involvement. A kindly man in the Fer-a-Cheval, who was looking and sounding two sheets to the wind, suggested that a group of veteran Verbier ski bums are planning ‘The Great Escape’ to the ‘Real World’ and have started digging three tunnels (Tom, Dick and Harry) with exits in Vollèges, he also said ‘have you seen the massive pile of earth by the road on the way to Vollèges’ as further evidence to back up his story.
The real story isn’t so colourful but is a great step forwards for Le Châble. The hole has taken more than 30 years of planning and is the start of a new underground train station costing 27 million CHF. The new station platforms will be underground and will be the first train-gondola link in Switzerland, the station will also come into line with new federal directives relating to user safety and accessibility for people with reduced mobility. The development will also make an extra 46’000 m2 of land available for ‘Urban Development’. However at this moment it is not clear what the ‘Urban Development’ will be? Obviously there is some great potential for new rumours and bar chat.
We suspect the regulars at the station PMU bar will need a new venue for their daily glass of fendent and flutter on the ponies.
The new Le Châble train station will be ready for December 2018.
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/the-big-hole-1030x773.jpg7731030Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2016-11-24 06:00:452021-02-01 08:42:33Verbier Insider | Secret Submarine Base
If you, like us, love great meals out in and around Verbier then you’ll probably also know there is a bit of ‘musical chairs’ going on with the restaurants in Verbier. And a bit like the drivers in Formula 1, everyone is looking for the hot seat, when one moves they all move. So what is the gossip?
What is the story at Chez Dany?
The executive chef and his team have done a bunk leaving a power vacuum. For a while it was a little uncertain as to what was happening in Clambin – However we can report that Chez Dany has been taken over by the rebel forces of the Democratic Republic of Clambin (DRC). These same rebel forces once were the original founders of P.A.A.R.T.E.E. at Farinet Après. We’ve also heard on the grape vine, that the DRC are offering refuge to the Dicktators who are building their own secret mountain hideaway. Apparently the infamous Yellow Mike will be helping the DRC and the Dicktators write their P.A.A.R.T.E.E. manifesto.
It looks like Chez Dany is going to be the place this winter for rebellious rocking Après Ski in Verbier. We are unsure how the Popular Peoples Front of Clambin will respond, however we will keep you posted on developments in Clambin.
Where is Nomad Sushi?
Nomad in the Nevai Hotel has always been a bit nomadic, setting up in a number of different locations around town. As far as we can tell Nomad at its last locations, in the Nevai Hotel, has closed. However, the owners of Nomad just happened to be the original founders of Farinet Après and they are now in Chez Dany. Confused?!
If you have a penchant for high altitude sushi, then there is no need to worry! You’ll still be able to satisfy your desire for uncooked fish in Verbier this winter – The rumour is: The former Nomad sushi chefs are doing three nights a week in T-Bar.
L’Ecurie
The former executive chef of Chez Dany Claude Alain Besse and his team have taken on the L’Ecurie in the hotel Ermitage. This is great news as one of Verbiers’ best restaurateurs is now on the mountain and in the town. Lunch and dinner is sorted! If we can survive a round or two of fine Gentianes we’ll post our review of L’Ecurie very soon.
Dahu
Claude Alain Besse is still at the Dahu.
Club Vie Verbier | Rosalp Hotel
The Rosalp in the good old days was home to a Michelin starred restaurant. Over the last few years the Rosalp has been another Verbier building site making the rue de Medran look like a Swiss cheese. The Club Vie Verbier will open this December in the Rosalp and has potential to rock with some serious talent in the kitchen. Gerwin Brand, who’s CV looks like he should be a judge on Master Chef, is running the kitchen and we are excited. We’ll bring you a review as soon as possible.
Pergola
The Pergola has had a bit of face lift this summer and has got a lovely new wooden pergola. Who knows if the menu is getting a face lift? Please do send in your reviews.
Brasserie No.1
Sadly Brasserie No.1 in Le Chable has closed. We’ll miss the fine food that was served by Jamie and the boys. The rumour is, Jamie is going to be sous chef to Gerwin Brand at Club Vie Verbier.
If you’ve got any other gossip or reviews of Verbier restaurants, then I,d love to hear from you. Or if you need help finding your way to Chez Dany then maybe book some ski lessons with me!
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/thumb_600.jpg590590Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2016-11-18 05:29:282021-02-01 08:42:34Chez Dany | Restaurant Musical Chairs & the Democratic Republic of Clambin
The London Financial Times recently publish an article with rumours about Chez Dany – so what is the real gossip about Chez Dany?
One story doing the rounds in Verbier is that the former executive chef of Chez Dany has upped and left and is going to take over the restaurant L’Ecurie in Verbier – We can confirm Claude Alain Besse (from the Dahu) is taking over the L’Ecurie and will be open from November the 11th. Call +41 27 771 27 60 to reserve – I am sure this is going to be a great eating out destination this winter in Verbier.
Another story filling the Verbier gossip columns is:- Chez Dany has been sold to a secretive Russian billionaire who wants to build a luxury mountain hide-away – We’ve talked to all big building firms in town and nobody appears to know anything about this rumour– We think this story is just ski-bum-bar-chat.
Another story is:- Chez Dany will be a ghost of a the former restaurant left to go derelict on a closed piste – The closed piste might be great for a few secret powder turns after a fresh dump of the light fluffy stuff – But not so great for your hungry bellies after a hard day skiing.
Another story is: – The Chez Dany lease has been taken on by some of the best party doctors in town with a reputation for pumping Après Ski entertainment. What a location for standing-on-the-tables-dancing-in-ski-boots Après Ski! This could be great news for Verbier Après Ski but maybe not so great news for the Russian oligarchs hiding away in Clambin!
Bring on the snow so we can ski through the pretty hamlet of Clambin to find out the real story about what is happening at Chez Dany this winter. If you need help finding your way to Chez Dany then maybe book a ski lesson with me.
Chez Dany Update – For the true and accurate story head over to Chez Dany website.
https://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Chez-Dany-Verbier.jpg10401040Roddy Willishttps://www.roddywillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/RoddyWillis-logo.pngRoddy Willis2016-11-05 05:52:212021-02-01 08:42:34Chez Dany Verbier | What is the story?
Not a day, no, let’s make that an hour has gone by recently without someone predicting the latest snowfall, 1000 year storm, hurricane or heatwave. Yes – it is that time of the year again when everyone is a snow-forecasting expert. In the era of the ‘smart phone’ we all know it is pretty easy to be ‘Smart’ about the weather. But if you want to be a real expert you need to use some more traditional ‘smart’ techniques for your snow prediction.
Here are few ‘Smart’ tips for your own snow prediction from some Verbier Insiders.
Smart-Onions
‘The thicker the layers of an onion skin the more severe and early the onset of winter.’ Verbier Insider: Squid at No. 1 Ski Rental
Smart-Larch
‘When the very last of the larch needles fall to the ground the winter will start for real and not before’. Verbier Insider: Jean Claude Vaudan
Smart-Berries
‘There is an abundance of the wild berries which is down to a great summer and it is nature’s way of giving birds an extra food source before a harsh winter’. Verbier Insider: Peter Piper
Smart-Wood
‘When the various online sites are contradicting each other and all else fails, ‘I Just check out my next-door neighbour and see if he is chopping wood’. Verbier Insider: Tom Blower
Whatever ‘Smart’ technique you choose we know one thing is for certain – The snow is coming and there will be some ‘Smart’ skiing in Verbier this winter.
